Chapter 4

The images from my death in my past life flashed before my eyes again.

He'd held a wolfsbane-laced dagger just like that, looked at me with that same hatred, told me I'd driven Sophia away, told me I deserved to die.

This life — he hadn't even bothered to investigate before pinning every crime on me.

I laughed. Laughed until my eyes burned red.

"Theodore, you never change. You only ever believe what you want to believe."

"Seraphina!" His gaze cut like a blade. "Don't try to change the subject. The wolfsbane in Sophia's system is incurable — only Moon Goddess's Pure Blood can suppress and purify it."

My pupils contracted.

He knew about my bloodline.

Moon Goddess's Pure Blood was a gift the Moon Goddess had bestowed upon the diviner lineage. Our blood could suppress wolfsbane and heal any fatal wound.

But if a Pure Blood bearer lost too much, their divination gift would weaken — and their life would shorten.

Theodore knew all of this. He didn't care.

I'd thought I was past hurting. But the pain still ripped through my chest like a wound torn fresh.

There was a time when I'd merely scraped my finger and Theodore had gone red-eyed with worry, dragging the best witch to my bedside in the middle of the night.

And now —

Theodore fixed me with a stare. His tone left zero room for argument.

"You're coming to the infirmary with me. I need your blood to save Sophia."

Wolf guards stormed in before I could respond, bound me, and dragged me to the infirmary. They strapped me to a chair.

The witch pushed a needle into my arm. Blood flowed out in a steady stream.

At 200 milliliters, my face went pale.

At 400, my limbs turned to water. The room spun. My vision blurred.

At 600, everything went black.

When I woke, I was lying in a bed. Theodore sat beside me.

For once, he actually looked worn down.

A flash of relief crossed his eyes when he saw me awake.

"Seraphina, how do you feel?"

"You've been out for a day and a night. Good thing you didn't miss tonight's banquet."

I knew perfectly well — tonight was when the Alpha would announce his heir.

When I didn't respond, he shifted uncomfortably.

"Seraphina, it's not too late to get back on my good side. No matter how skilled your divinations are, you still need the Blood Moon Pack to survive."

I scoffed.

Theodore seemed to have forgotten — he was never the Alpha's only option.

But I was the Blood Moon Pack's only diviner.

If diviners weren't forbidden from reading their own fates, I'd never have been fooled by his tenderness in my past life.

My silence clearly irritated him. Anger flickered in his eyes.

"Fine, Seraphina. You really are stubborn."

"I'll be waiting for you to come crawling back. And when you do, I'll make you kneel — and hand your divination skills over to Sophia."

He turned and left.

Night fell. Over a dozen wolf guards — tall, imposing, silver-etched scimitars slung across their hips — flanked the great hall.

The instant Evander and I walked in, every eye in the room bounced between me and Theodore, who was already there. Amusement rippled through the crowd.

Theodore's head snapped toward me. His eyes could've set me on fire.

He actually walked away from Sophia and came straight at me.

"I can't believe you'd stoop so low — parading around with a bastard just to get my attention."

Sophia chimed in immediately, her voice sickly sweet: "Wow, Seraphina — interesting taste. I hear Evander's been through half the she-wolves in the pack. He must be really good in bed. Watch your health, sweetheart."

Crude laughter erupted around us. A few young wolves even whistled.

Theodore leaned in close, his voice a low hiss: "After tonight, you'll come begging."

Just then, a deep horn sounded.

The Alpha strode in from outside the hall, leaning on his fang scepter.